Joseph Bowers (b. circa 1826 - d. ?)
MSA SC 5496-3388
Accomplice to slave flight, Washington County, Maryland, 1861
Biography:
Joseph Bowers helped Henry Stanton, the slave of Elizabeth O' Neal,
in his attempt to run away on April 25, 1861. A thirty-five year old White
peddler, Bowers had his case removed to Washington County from Allegany
County. The Washington County Circuit Court heard the case on Nov
22, 1861, and Bowers entered a not guilty plea. The witness that
testified in Bowers' defense was Rev. John Alexander Adams, preacher at
St. Paul’s Protestant Episcopal Church in Washington County. Bowers was declared guilty, and sentenced
to confinement in the Maryland State Penitentiary for eight years and six months
starting Dec. 21, 1861. The Washington County Circuit Court charged Bowers
with enticing, assisting & persuading Henry Stanton, a slave, to abscond
from his owner. Bowers was recommended for clemency by several respectable
citizens, due to the nature of his good character, and "by the terms of
the Constitution lately adopted in this state, the offence of which he
was convicted can no longer be committed."1 Bowers was
pardoned on May 30, 1865 by Governor A.W. Bradford.
1. SECRETARY OF STATE (Pardon Record) MSA S1108, Joseph Bowers, p 443, Dates: 1845-1865, Accession No.: 7931, MSA No.: S 1108-2.
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